465th Air Refueling Squadron

The 465th Air Refueling Squadron is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron, assigned to the 507th Operations Group, 507th Air Refueling Wing, stationed at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The squadron operates the KC-135R aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions.

465th Air Refueling Squadron
A 465th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135R[note 1]
Active1944–1946; 1953–1955; 1955–1960; 1972–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleAir refueling
Part ofAir Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQTinker Air Force Base
Engagements

  • World War II Asia-Pacific Theater[1]
Decorations
Insignia
465th Air Refueling Squadron emblem
465th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron emblem[note 2][2]

Overview

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The squadron operates Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting air refueling missions. It is one of three flying organizations in the 507th Air Refueling Wing, incorporating pilots and traditional operations functions.

As civilians, many of the pilots assigned to the refueling squadron are employed by commercial airlines. As reservists, they are required to fly the same type sorties as their active-duty counterparts to remain proficient and combat ready.

History

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World War II

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Formed in late 1944 as the 465th Fighter Squadron and trained under II Fighter Command in the midwest and Texas. Equipped with the very long range Republic P-47N Thunderbolt with a combat mission to escort Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers from their bases in the Mariana Islands to Japan.

Following months of delays, the squadron arrived in the Pacific Theater, being assigned to Ie Shima in the Ryukyu Islands on 28 June 1945 from Saipan/Tinian. During forty-six days of combat, the squadron flew forty-six missions. With the end of the war, the squadron was reassigned to Yontan Air Base, Okinawa in January 1946 conducting occupation duty. It was inactivated on 24 May 1946.

Air Defense Command

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Activated 18 February 1953 by Air Defense Command at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, equipped with North American F-86D Sabres with an air defense mission. Inactivated 18 August 1955 IAW Project Arrow when parent 567th Air Defense Group inactivated and replaced 325th Fighter Group (Air Defense).

Reactivated 8 October 1955 at Griffiss Air Force Base, New York and assigned to 32d Air Division with Northrop F-89D Scorpions; converted to F-89H/J Scorpions in the fall of 1956; transferred to 4727th Air Defense Group in February 1957; moved to Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts and reassigned to Boston Air Defense Sector in August 1959, acquiring North American F-86L Sabres in a swap with the 49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron; inactivated 15 March 1960 as the Sabre was being phased out in favor of supersonic interceptors.

Air Force Reserve

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465th TFS F-105s, 1978
 
A 465th TFS F-4D, 1985
 
301st TFW F-16Cs, 2003

It trained for fighter missions between 1972 and 1994 and has flown worldwide air refueling missions since 1994.

Lineage

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  • Constituted as the 465th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 5 October 1944
Activated on 12 October 1944
Inactivated on 24 May 1946
  • Redesignated 465th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 3 February 1953
Activated on 18 February 1953
Inactivated on 18 August 1955
  • Activated on 8 October 1955
Discontinued on 15 March 1960
  • Redesignated 465th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 4 May 1972[note 3]
Activated in the reserve on 20 May 1972
Redesignated 465th Fighter Squadron on 1 February 1992
Redesignated 465th Air Refueling Squadron on 1 April 1994[1]

Assignments

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Stations

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Aircraft

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References

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Notes

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Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Aircraft is Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker serial 62-3503
  2. ^ Approved 22 August 1955.
  3. ^ From December 1972 to January 1977, there was also an unrelated 465th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron in the Regular Air Force.
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Robertson, Patsy (27 March 2012). "Factsheet 465 Air Refueling Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  2. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 571–572

Bibliography

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  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency